Direct verification is a method that can be used to confirm eligibility for verification. Direct verification uses records from public agencies to verify assistance program participation which can help reduce the burden upon families and eliminate non-responders. Results of Direct Verification must be reported on the School Food Authority Verification Collection Report.

LEAs are not required to conduct direct verification but are encouraged to utilize this method. Direct verification was put in the federal law to make it easier for eligible families to retain benefits and is an excellent means to address the non-response rates of households selected for verification. It is not an opportunity to run a computer check for all children in your school. Direct verification should be used only to check students selected in your verification sample.

Direct verification must be conducted prior to contacting the household for documentation. Direct verification can be used for the sample selected for verification via the error prone method, the random sample, or the focused sample. LEAs must have security measures to ensure the confidentiality of the information.

SFAs will conduct the direct verification process by using the Direct Certification Matching Process (DCMP) data. Direct certification electronic records will provide data for the current school year through October and will be available to authorized users of the New York State Student Identification System (NYSSIS).

To directly verify students using the direct certification matching system LEA’s must:

Have a username and password to access the SED Business Portal with entitlements to the NYSSIS system

Search the direct certification data by last name or date of birth for a specific student that was selected for verification

If the student is found on the list, the student is eligible for free meal benefits. Verification is considered complete and further documentation is not needed from the family to confirm eligibility.

If the student is not found on the direct certification list, you must continue verification efforts. You must notify the family that they have been selected for verification and request documentation to confirm eligibility.

Keep a record of directly verified students on file for 3 years plus the current year

Verification of eligibility for households that provided an Assistance Program case number on the application may also be accomplished by submitting a list of names and Assistance Program case numbers to the local SNAP or assistance office for confirmation of certification of receipt of benefits from agency records. Please see Attachment B for the prototype letter that may be used.

If information provided by the public agency does not verify eligibility or if you are not able to find the student through the direct certification matching data, the LEA must proceed with regular verification activities. The LEA must complete direct verification immediately following the October 1 verification sample selection, so that households not directly verified can be contacted for verification information in a timely manner.

If information obtained through this process verifies that the household is participating in an assistance program no additional verification is required. The eligibility status of the child or children listed on the application is considered verified and a letter informing the household of its selection for verification is not required.

When an application is selected for verification and, prior to hearing back from the household in question, that household is found on a direct certification list, the application does not have to be replaced in the verification sample pool. The application would be marked as a direct certification in the appropriate box in Section 3 of the FNS-742. LEAs should include these applications in Field 5-5 (Number of applications selected for verification) of the FNS-742 and indicate the number of these applications that are being converted to direct certification in the remarks portion of the FNS-742.

USDA Nondiscrimination Statement

In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA.

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.), should contact the Agency (State or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.